Sending Different Signals

Two Ways To Make A New York Qb

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jets coach Bill Parcells, a master of mind games, has been testing Glenn Foley's will from the beginning of training camp.

Today, the cocky ``fair-haired boy'' appears to have emerged from a mini quarterback controversy and Parcells, who deep down always wanted Foley to be his guy, couldn't be happier.

Well, he probably could be.

In any event, Foley, 27, is learning what it's like to be a quarterback under Parcells.

``He does certain things, says certain things because he wants to know where your head is,'' Foley said. ``And hey, that's fine with me. I don't have a problem with it because I know I can handle it.''

There's another fresh face calling signals in New York, Danny Kanell of the Giants. He, like Foley, has been anointed the starter. But for him, under coach Jim Fassel, things aren't nearly as stressed.

Fassel, who declared Kanell the starter and quarterback of the future at the end of last season, is doing everything to build his leader's confidence.

He has made it clear the Giants' more experienced backup, Kent Graham, is just that -- the backup. And Giants management is trying to ease Kanell's mind with the financial commitment of a long-term extension.

Asked if he's made a concerted effort to make Kanell feel secure and comfortable this summer, Fassel said, ``Yes, I tuck him in at night, give him cookies.''

Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. But establishing who is going to be The Man, especially when it's a young quarterback, is a great confidence boost.

Both Foley and Kanell now have the blessing of their coaches and will carry the ball and the hopes of their franchises. And they'll meet tonight in the third exhibition game of the season.

The Jets (1-1) and Giants (1-1) are coming off lopsided losses, and the way in which they respond could say a lot about the young leaders --and the way they have been handled.

``Coach Fassel has done a great job of making the situation very clear,'' Kanell, 24, said of being named the starter. ``I feel fortunate to be in the situation I am in. He has played the position, knows how to deal with our egos, knows how we are emotionally.''

Kanell, who took over for long-struggling Dave Brown in the sixth game last season, went 7-2-1 as the starter. But after a poor performance against Tampa Bay, Kanell was challenged by Fassel, who threatened to go back to Brown if Kanell did not play well ``out of the blocks'' the next week at Philadelphia.

Kanell threw three TD passes in the victory, and ended the season with a three- game winning streak in helping the Giants secure the NFC East title.

Kanell imagines playing for Parcells would be ``totally opposite'' than playing for Fassel, but conceded one similarity:

``[Fassel] doesn't yell at you,'' said Kanell, who is scheduled to make $216,000 this season but is negotiating a long-term extension that would pay him at least $2 million a year. ``You might think he is quiet, but he knows how to push that button that makes you work harder.''

Asked if he met with Foley to put Foley's mind at ease, Parcells said: ``I'm not worried about any of that. I'm trying to get this guy ready to play. I don't worry about him being at ease. I'm not at ease, how can he be at ease? What are we running here, some kind of mental health clinic?''

Foley, at 27 in his fifth season with the Jets and --second under Parcells, -- is becoming more familiar with how the coach tinkers with his quarterbacks' mental makeup in hopes of getting the best out of them. He can expect it to last longer than just training camp.

Parcells-Simms. Parcells-Hostetler. Parcells-Bledsoe. Parcells-O'Donnell. They were classic matchups in which flare-ups extended from the practice field to the games --and national television.

``I'm not proud of some of the things I do, you know that,'' Parcells said. ``But I probably can't change too much of what happens during the game now. I've been doing this for a long time. I'm going to say a few things from time to time, but I don't think that's a detriment to the team or detriment to any player.''

Foley said it's not a problem, and sometimes he'll bark back at his coach -- which Parcells likes because it shows he has the confidence, fire and boldness to be a leader.

``Yeah, I'd say a little of that goes on,'' Parcells said. ``I don't mind it. I don't care if anybody shouts back at me as long as they know what they're talking about. I've never cared about that.''

Foley, who caught Parcells' eye by rallying the Jets to a pair of come-from- behind victories last season, isn't shy about giving his coach an earful.

``I'm pretty vocal,'' said Foley, who signed a two-year, $2.8 million contract at the end of last season. ``But that's not what it's all about. For a quarterback, it's about going out there and performing at a high level. And if you can do that, everything should be fine.''

How They Match Up

* With 10 starts last season, Giants quarterback Danny Kanell has the edge in experience over the Jets' Glenn Foley, who has made five starts in four years: